Benchmarks for Iraq

Here is the full transcript of Bush's Iraq press conference. I had apparently missed this part:

Q: In the past, Democrats and other critics of the war who talked about benchmarks and timetables were labeled as defeatists, Defeatocrats, or people who wanted to cut and run.So why shouldn't the American people conclude that this is nothing from you other than semantic, rhetoric games and all politics two weeks before an election?

BUSH: There is a significant difference between benchmarks for a government to achieve and a timetable for withdrawal.You're talking about _ when you're talking about the benchmarks, he's talking about the fact that we're working with the Iraqi government to have certain benchmarks to meet as a way to determine whether or not they're making the hard decisions necessary to achieve peace.I believe that's what you're referring to. And we're working with the Iraqi government to come up with benchmarks.Listen, this is a sovereign government. It was elected by the people of Iraq. What we're asking them to do is, When do you think you're going to get this done? When can you get this done? _ so the people themselves in Iraq can see that the government is moving forward with a reconciliation plan and plans necessary to unify this government.

He was so close to a good answer - if he had just been able to give an example or two to give confidence in the benchmarks that might be set...